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The following are the association football events of the year 1881 throughout the world.

• FC Girondins de Bordeaux

• Berwick Rangers F.C.
• Leyton Orient F.C.
• Southport F.C.
• Swindon Town F.C.
• Watford F.C.

• East Stirlingshire F.C.

• Colwyn Bay F.C.

Nation	Tournament	Winner	Runner-up
England	1880–81 FA Cup	Old Carthusians	Old Etonians
Ireland	1880–81 Irish Cup	Moyola Park	Cliftonville
Scotland	1880–81 Scottish Cup	Queen's Park	Dumbarton[1]
Wales	1880–81 Welsh Cup	Druids	Newtown White Stars

• 9 February – Jimmy Hay (d. 1940), Scotland international half-back in eleven matches (1905–1914).
• 22 May – Colin Veitch (d. 1938), England international half-back in six matches (1906–1909).
• 3 July – Horace Bailey (d. 1960), England international goalkeeper in five matches (1908).
• 19 July – Stanley Harris (d. 1926), England international forward in six matches (1904–1906), scoring two goals.
• 22 August – Harry Makepeace (d. 1952), England international half-back in four matches (1906–1912); also a cricket international.
• 20 September – Alex Bennett (d. 1940), Scotland international forward in eleven matches (1904–1913).
• 26 September – Albert Lindsay, English professional footballer (d. 1961)^[2]